Building a glass aquarium DIY.

[iReefer12]

I bought the black frames to make a custom sized glass aquarium.

having the glass cut at a local shop, but I have one question.

What finish should I have them put on the edges that will silicone together? Can they be rough? Or do they need to be finished and smooth?

 

[Duncan62]

I bought the black frames to make a custom sized glass aquarium.

having the glass cut at a local shop, but I have one question.

What finish should I have them put on the edges that will silicone together? Can they be rough? Or do they need to be finished and smooth?

Smooth.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I used to work for a glass company and the edge of glass is the weakest point. A polished edge actually makes the glass stronger. A polished edge for any aquarium should be standard. Do yourself a favor and opt for the polished edges. Every time you look at your aquarium, you will be happy you did.

The above quote was taken from this thread:

Is having polished edges on your aquarium worth the extra price?

Wow, is that actually the difference between having polished edges and not? When I asked them what they meant by polished edges they said it was mostly an aesthetic thing; I had no idea that the edges would be sharp with polishing. Perhaps it is a terminology misunderstanding. Hard to see how...

www.reef2reef.com

Generally speaking, you want the glass edges to be polished smooth (or, if you're doing the glass yourself and can't polish them, sanded smooth) both for the aesthetics, safety (no sharp edges), and for strength (as mentioned above).

 

[iReefer12]

Thank you!